WFP signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Libyan
Ministry of Education (MoE) in January 2019 to implement a School Feeding
programme. Since July 2019, WFP has been working with the MoE through its
WFP-trained school officials to bring daily snacks to the over 18,000
schoolchildren enrolled in 58 primary schools located in four municipalities in
southern Libya: Ghat, Alkufra, Alqatroun, and Alsharqiya. Specific schools are
not publicly listed for safety.

With the needed funding, the programme plans to scale up to
reach 40,000 students this year. .

Trainings and events

WFP has worked closely with the MoE to ensure institutional
capacity at both regional and local levels was strengthened and held technical
trainings for the school officials as well as school nutrition and
healthfocused Training of Trainers to officials throughout the year. After
these training of trainers, the school officials then trained other school
officials, creating a network.

WFP also assisted the MoE and local businesses to run
nutrition summer camps for 600 children at 3 sites in Tripoli: Hay Alandalos,
Janzur, and Abu Salim in September 2019 in order to help support a healthy
school environment and promote nutrition awareness.

On several occasions, the MoE, with the support of WFP,
engaged in South-South and triangular cooperation by participating in the two
rounds of the Global Child Nutrition Forum as well as other dedicated
initiatives held both in Libya and internationally. During these Forums, the
MoE and the Government of Libya engaged in peer-learning sessions on school
feeding with regional counterparts and went on field visits to learn about good
practices in countries that benefit from common context school feeding
programmes. This South-South exchange contributed to increased advocacy for
school feeding and enhanced partnerships between countries.

COVID-19 adaptations

WFP is fully in alignment with Libya’s priority to ensure
distance learning takes place while schools are closed to prevent the spread of
COVID-19. Starting 30 March, thanks to the efforts of the school feeding focal
points and the education offices, WFP began the distributions of date bars as
take-home rations for the schoolchildren and their families that are enrolled
in the programme of the four municipalities. Distributions are undertaken by
school officials during curfew-allowed times and with all COVID-19 precautions
in place.

We look forward to the day when COVID-19 is behind us, but
in the meanwhile, we stand behind Libya in its commitment to prioritize
education